Romeo et Juliette

Verona and its Amphitheater are the ideal setting for this Gounoud opera that depicts an emotionally charged atmosphere. The whole story is based on a series of duets representing the development of two people, leading them from careless attraction, to a responsible concept of love, and at last to the invevitable ending in death.

Author: Charles Gounod
Libretto by Jules Barbier and MIchel Carré, after William Shakespeare play
Première: 27th April 1867, Paris (Théatre Lyrique)

Romeo and Juliette, Opera in 5 acts

First Act

At the old Capulet family's house a great ball is held. Romeo and his friend Mercutio, members of the Montague family, enemy of the Capulets, are uninvited guests. At the party, Romeo approches a girl, falls in love with her and to his horror he discovers that she is Juliet, the daughter of his enemy.
Romeo is then recognised and has to flee.

First Act

At the old Capulet family's house a great ball is held. Romeo and his friend Mercutio, members of the Montague family, enemy of the Capulets, are uninvited guests. At the party, Romeo approches a girl, falls in love with her and to his horror he discovers that she is Juliet, the daughter of his enemy.
Romeo is then recognised and has to flee.

Second Act

Romeo waits for Juliet under her balcony, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Juliet's come to the balcony, she is in love too, and they declare each other love and decide to marry in spite of the rivalry between their families.

Third Act

Romeo's confessor, friar Lawrence, blesses Romeo and Juliet's secret marriage, hoping that this union will bring Capulets and Montagues feud to an end. Mercutio, Romeo's friend, is killed in a fight with Tybalt, a member of the Capulets. Romeo enters the fight and kills Tybalt. The Duke of Verona condemns Romeo to banishment for life.

Fourth Act

Before leaving Verona Romeo spend a night with Juliet.
Juliet's father intend to marry her to Paris, but friar Lawrence gives Juliet a sleeping draft that will make her looking dead and laid in the family crypt. According to friar Lawrence plan, when she wakes up Romeo will be there to take her away with him.
During the wedding ceremony with Paris, Juliet collapses, apparently dead.

Fith Act

Juliet lies in her grave but friar Lawrence messanger has failed to inform Romeo of the truth. Romeo believes Juliet dead and drink the poison in order to reunite with her in the grave. As Romeo is dying, Juliet wakes and after a last dream of life together Romeo dies, and Juliet follows him stabbing her self with Romeo's dagger.

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